Puzzling with my Husband
You only have to look at the books I’ve written to know that I love puzzles. I was nine years old when complex jigsaw puzzles came into my life due to a leg injury. I was laid up for quite a while so puzzles were a way to help me stay put and get through a tough time. Putting together jigsaw puzzles became a favorite pastime of mine throughout my teens and even college years.
Probably the most difficult of all the puzzles because of the shape.
This past Christmas, I bought two puzzles, a logo of Harley-Davidson and outer space. My husband, Luke, purchased an adorable puzzle filled with puppies and a superhero puzzle from the Avengers. Plus, we borrowed puzzles from my sister. Suddenly, we had an influx of puzzles.
We set up the first one on the dining room table and over the Christmas break we came together for this shared project. We both work from home but we often don’t connect about our day until dinner.
However, now there was this puzzle in the shape of the Harley Davidson logo. We came together at lunch, sitting around the puzzle, placing pieces, eating, and talking.
Luke and I puzzle very differently. We do separate the edge. As I piece together the border, Luke organizes by color or patterns and creates small islands until they connect to each other or the border.
Puppies sitting on a farm truck puzzle.
This puzzle had to be separated by shape to make any sense of it!
I separate shapes and look for minute differences. What’s referred to as ‘tabs,’ ‘loops,’ ‘bumps’ or ‘pockets’ and ‘slots.’ ‘H’ shapes, pieces with three corners with one tab and one slot, or three slots and one tab. I line them up in the same direction. Then I patiently scan each piece comparing them with the space I want to fill.
Loved that this puzzle had star, planet, and astronaut shaped pieces.
Doing a puzzle is a practice in patience—very much like marriage. Luke and I approach most situations and life in opposite ways, which often require not only patience but respect and acceptance. We form a balance and still find ways to surprise one another even after 34 years.
We have completed six puzzles since Christmas and have spent approximately 130 lunches together. It has brought us closer and given us longer lunches away from our desks. Quality breaks filled with laughter, connection, and definitely competition. Go to my Instagram post to see all the puzzles.
Puzzles are done for the season but we continue to lunch together. We carve out the time because our love matters.
What will our lunch dates bring next? I’ll let you know!